AV says McGinn sending off was unfair

 "Referee was caught out by Tottenham protests" vs "ugly, horrible tackle" blame

Aston Villa captain John McGinn, 30, has been sent off for a 'murderous tackle'. However, teammate Ollie Watkins, 29, criticized the referee and defended the captain.

Tottenham defeated Aston Villa 4-0 in the 28th round of the 2023-2024 Premier League (PL) season at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, on Tuesday (Jan. 10). After John McGinn was sent off in the 20th minute, Tottenham scored two goals in the second half to put the game away.

With the win, Tottenham secured a six-point cushion in the race for fourth place. There are now just two points between fifth-place Spurs (53 points) and fourth-place Villa (55 points), who have played one more game. For Spurs, it was a valuable win that boosts their hopes of qualifying for next season's UEFA Champions League (UCL).

There was a dizzying moment. In the 20th minute, McGinn kicked Destiny Udogie hard on the leg as she broke quickly from behind the center line, a dangerous tackle that hit her leg without even touching the ball. 

The Tottenham bench, having witnessed the worst tackle of the game, protested strongly. Udo Kodiak approached McGinn and was furious, but then went down in pain. Spurs players, including Brennan Johnson and James Maddison, were also enraged and lunged at McGinn, causing a clash. Son Heung-min and manager Unai Emery Villa had to rush to break up the fight.

Referee Chris Kavanagh went straight to McGinn with a direct red card. It was a foolish sending off that completely dampened the mood of Villa, who had come back to life after the substitution. McGinn was forced to walk off the pitch with a stern look on his face.

Villa fell apart after McGinn's sending off. No wonder they were down 0-2 and were forced to play with 10 men. With their numerical advantage, Tottenham slowly cooked Villa and added two more goals.

Son Heung-min drove a wedge into the game. He split the net in the 45th minute with a powerful, non-stop volley from a Kulusebski cross. In second-half stoppage time, he assisted Timo Werner's goal with a cutback pass after a breakaway. Son was named Man of the Match (MOTM) with one goal and two assists on the day, including an assist on Johnson's goal.

According to Football London, McGinn's ejection was for a "serious foul". "We have learned that McGinn was sent off for 'serious foul play'," the outlet said. This is when a player makes a tackle or challenge that could seriously injure another player, or uses too much force." "McGinn's tackle was deemed a serious foul as there was no effort to play the ball," the source explained.

Even the BBC, who were watching the game, were shocked. "Villa captain McGinn has been sent off directly! It's a horror tackle. He lost his balance and went straight for Udogie's legs. He didn't even try to play the ball. It's a clear red card. The Tottenham players are furious." "To be honest, I don't see anyone arguing that it wasn't a red card. The referee was one of them," he added, shaking his head.

The criticism was directed at McGinn. Don Goodman, a former Wolverhampton striker, said: "Udogie first got up in anger, then he said, 'Actually I'm injured' and went back down. It was an ugly, horrible tackle." 

Leicester City defender Conor Cody added: "It was obviously too much. I'm sure the Villa players are upset, but I can understand the reaction of the Tottenham 토토사이트 bench and players. "It's really disappointing for Villa to have their captain go off and one of their first team players go off, because McGinn was really strong in his challenge," he said.

Tottenham boss Enzi Postecoglou smiled broadly. "I don't think the sending off was the decisive moment. We were 2-0 up and in control of the game. "I don't think it was malicious on McGinn's part, I don't think it was malicious on his part, I think it was just a result of the pressure we were putting on him. I think it was probably just frustration more than anything. We felt quite a few calls went against us. I can't believe we got a Sarman caution today, but I don't think the sending off changed the game."

After the loss, Emery sighed, not just for the loss but for the loss of his captain. "The first two goals in the second half were crazy. After the sending off, it was harder to get a result. We need to control our emotions even when we are 0-2 down. We have a responsibility to be mature." "We were not calm, we were not better than them, and then we lost control of our emotions and got a red card. It was disappointing," he lamented.

However, he insisted that he had no intention of hurting Udogi. Emery added: "Of course, McGinn is always very, very important. "He wanted to fight back after the second goal, but the game tilted after he was sent off," Emery said, "He's always a very passionate player. As far as I know, it's only his second sending off in 600 games. He's always honest and competitive, he's not a player who does it with bad intentions."

Villa striker Ollie Watkins claimed the referee was swayed by Spurs' protests. He said: "I think the sending off was harsh. It certainly looks a bit reckless. It happened in front of the Tottenham bench and there was a big reaction from the bench. It's obviously a tough call to take," he protested, adding: "McGinn is very important to us. To lose him for three games is the biggest nail in the coffin," he lamented.

"McGinn's exit was 'ugly, cynical and a terrible challenge,' says the Telegraph. But was it a sending off? Opinions were divided," but "the refereeing was excellent. Referee Kavanagh applied the correct rules. McGinn's challenge was a clear act of serious foul play, and he was rightly sent off."

Udogi was lucky not to be seriously injured. "McGinn was lucky. Udogie could have suffered much worse damage. "I was impressed with the referee's calm response. He didn't immediately show a red card and didn't turn up the heat in the moment. Instead, he calmed the players down, decided on the right response, and sent them off. A great call."

Finally, the media outlet added: "The VAR referee also did nothing and upheld referee Cabana's decision. McGinn and the Villa fans who applauded him outside the stadium cannot be unhappy with the decision," it emphasized.

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